KSU officials: Opportunities abound in the insurance field

Kent State University is the only Ohio school to offer a bachelor’s degree in insurance studies — a program launched last semester and offered exclusively at Kent’s Salem campus.

By Saimi Bergmann

The Repository

By Saimi Bergmann

Posted Mar. 20, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Mar 20, 2013 at 8:09 PM

By Saimi Bergmann

Posted Mar. 20, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Mar 20, 2013 at 8:09 PM

KENT

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Major in insurance? Student reaction is initially dubious.

“Most young people think insurance is all selling,” said Carol Blaine, program manager for the new bachelor of science in insurance studies at Kent State University. As part of her new job, Blaine spreads the word that job opportunities abound in the insurance field, from marketing to web design.

“It’s great for tech students. At most (insurance) companies, IT is one of the largest divisions,” she said.

Kent State is the only Ohio school to offer a bachelor’s degree in insurance studies — a program launched last semester and offered exclusively at Kent’s Salem campus.

“One of the reasons it’s there is, at the regional campuses, tuition is lower,” Blaine said. “So this program is very affordable.”

Although the insurance studies degree still is in its first year, it’s already expanding. At a press conference Tuesday, Kent officials announced they will add two more majors to the insurance program this fall, and the degree soon will be available online.

Why now? In a word — jobs.

A study by the Columbus State Community College’s Center for Workforce Development found that 17,000 jobs will open in the Ohio insurance industry during the next five years. Many of these vacancies will be created by retiring baby boomers.

At Tuesday’s press conference, Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor said this looming shortage of employees, or “talent gap,” prompted a collaboration of government, educators, and a consortium of 13 Ohio insurance companies to find a solution. Taylor praised Kent for being “ahead of the curve” and offering the new degree.

The first student to declare insurance studies as a major, Katelyn Moore of East Liverpool, said she was introduced to an insurance agent and a claims adjuster as a child when her family’s garage caught on fire. She said they were kind and helpful and “made what was a difficult time for our family as easy as possible.”

She was an accounting major at Kent when she heard about the insurance major.

“I was initially intrigued because of what happened to me with our fire,” she said. “Then I did the research and found out about all the jobs available, and that solidified it. I think there are lots of opportunities, and that’s exciting.”